Gun and mount therefor



Nov. 8, 1949 A. T. MANES GUN AND MOUNT THEREFOR Filed May 2, 1945 Andrew TIP lanes Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 7 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a gun and mount therefor and more particularly to means operable to permit pointing and training of the gun and to brake the movement of the gun in traverse and elevation or depression.

The invention is most particularly concerned with improvements in weapons of an intermediate caliber; e. g. 20-57 mm., although it may, of course, be employed equally well in conjunction with weapons of smaller or even much larger caliber under certain circumstances. It is often desirable in this type of weapon to mount the weapon for normally free traverse and normally free elevation or depression so that the operator may swing the gun horizontally or vertically in order to facilitate tracking of targets. The situation is the same whether the gun is mounted in a vehicle, aircraft, stationary mount, or other arrangement. It has been found however that in weapons of intermediate caliber of the type referred to, the weight of the gun is such that sheer inertia ordinarily prevents the operator from stopping his tracking in time to effectively secure a proper line on the target.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved mount in which the gun is normally freely swingable horizontally and vertically and in which means are provided under control of the operator for instantly stopping or braking travel of the weapon once it is properly sighted with respect to the target.

An important object of the invention is to provide the braking means in the form of fluidpressure means.

It is another important object of the invention to associate with each of the pivots that mount the gun for horizontal and vertical swinging, simple and efiicient braking means that will instantly secure the weapon in position after it has been properly aimed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby both horizontal and vertical swinging movement of the weapon may be braked simultaneously.

The invention has for another object the provision of means whereby the braking means may be operated by foot pressure applied by the operator.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means for regulating the amount of pressure that may be applied by the operator so that the force applied to the braking means may be controlled.

Other objects and important features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a gun and mount constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same structure as appearing from the breech end of the weapon;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the braking means, the view being taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the cylinder and piston assembly for actuating the fluid-pressure means.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the application of the invention to a gun mounted on a stationary mount such as a tripod Ill. The upper end of the tripod is formed as a housing ll having a central vertical bore in which is journaled a vertically disposed pivot member If. The upper end of the member 12 is threaded and receives the lower end or bight portion of a support l3 preferably in the form of a bifurcated member having opposite side portions l4 and IS. A suitable locking pin secures the members l2 and I3 together for rotation about the axis of the member [2.

The weapon mounted on the tripod ID includes a cradle it having a pair of oppositely extending transverse trunnions I! and IS. The trunnion l! is suitably journaled in the side member M of the support 13, and a bearing cap I9 is secured in place on the member M to retain the trunnion H. The opposite side member [5 is provided with a housing 20, preferably formed integrally therewith, The inner wall of the housing 23 serves to journal the trunnion l8. As will be hereinafter more fully set forth, the housing 29 includes upper and lower halves 2i and 22 so that the housing may be easily assembled and disassembled. The gun may be of any conventional construction and includes a tube or barrel 23, recoil mechanism 24, breech 25, and operating handles 2'6. The mounting of the support [3 on the housing H is such that the weapon may be normally freely traversed and the association between the trunnions l1 and I8 and the support I3 is such that the weapon may also be normally freely elevated or depressed.

The lower portion of the housing H is reduced and threaded as at 21 and receives an internally threaded cap 28. The inner portion of the bottom of the housing ll includes a braking element, preferably formed by means or" a conical recess 29 provided in the housing. The lower portion of the member I2 is provided with a complementary braking element 3%] formed with a conical surface engageable withsthe conical recess 29. The relationshimbetweenthe recess29- and surface 3a! is such that normally free traverse of the weapon is permitted. A fluid-pressure in-,--- let conduit 3i is connected through the cap 28 so that fluid under pressure may be appl'i'ed to the base or under radial face of the element 30;

The housing Zll formed on the support 13 encloses the trunnion IS on the cradl'el lfi ofz'th'el weapon. 'Ine'portion of the trunnion l8-within the housing is provided with or formed as a braking element 32 having an outer conica-l'isur face. A cylindrical cup..member'33"iscarried Within the housing 28 and serves to enclose a. sec- 20 0nd braking element l lhaving an internal conical recess 35 engageabl'e With-and complementary to I the conical surf-ace on the braking element 32. The elemenf 3 l-is preferably keyed to the cup 33 so"-tl1'at -it-isheld against rotation with respect to'the cup but'h-as sliding movement toward and aWay"-fromthe braking element 32 along the axis of the trunnion l8. The cup 33 is secured against rotation in the-housing 20' by means of a threaded connection 36 with a second cup membernll rigidly carried bythe housing Zitand additionally-'forming abearing for the trunnion l8 Asbest shown in Fig. S'the proximate radial faces ofthe ou-p 33 and the braking element 34 are spaced ap-art. A- fiuid-pressure inlet conduit '35 38 -is= communication with this space through connecting ports 39' formedin the housing 20 and cup 33.

A support ic is' -eadapted to be positioned adj aceirt'thebase ofthe mount lll and is provided 40 with" an upstanding member- 4| on which is m'ounteda cylinder" and piston assembly 4-2 for the -supplying 0f "fluid 'under' pressure through a fiuid liriedtlfi which"may-beflexible; to the fiuidpressure in-let conduits '3! and 38 and thence to th'eh'ousings" H andm; respectively; As best shown in Fig; 4', thecylinder carries a reciprocable piston l l having anpiston rod45 the'lower'end' ofwhich'is pivotally-connected toone end of'an" operating member the form 'of a foot lever on pedal 36. The pedal 46 is pivoted intermediate its errda on a' pivot means or fulcrum-41 on the support llll Depression ottherpedal d8 forces fluidthrough the linesdt and inlets'tl andSB-to th e housings l Hand- 203 A compression spring 481isfpro-vi'ded withinth'e 'cylinder 42 to return the pistonfto. its original position.-

As -=stat ed= previously; it is an important-object ofthe inventio'n to provide means whereby the r movement ofithe pedal 46 may be -contro1led"so" thatithesforce applied through the fluid-pressure system maybe-regulated; A simplified and pre-- ferred embodiment ofth is' meanstakesthe formofa'upairrot addustablerstops is and 50. The stop- L 39 .1 isslocated rfor vertical adjustment: underthe foot pedalstfiiat 'onef'side ot the fulcrum: 4-15 The"- stoprMhis-located :at the other side of the-'fulcrum' M :beloW that "portion ofthe pedal that is *connectedzato the piston rod to? Adjustmentof the stop; MIiupWard-ly lim-its the downward travelof- 7 theafootpeda'l and thus limits the fd-rce that may" be: app-lied through .the "fluid pressu-re-system to l the housings H and 205 Adjustmentof'the stop* Ellfiupwardly limits the amount *Of-retUrn 'travel of'ithe-piston:45 so that the'positions ofthe parts may be adjusted according to the volume of fluid in the system. It will be understood, of course, that any suitable means of well known type may be provided for replenishing the supply of fluid.

it will be noted that, since the braking elements 33 and 3.2 are circular and are freely mounted witnl'espect to the conicalrecessportions 2's and a l, there isagno interference-= with the normally free swinging of the weapon through traverse -and/or elevation or depression. However the braking means provided is such that the weapon may be instantly braked and securely held, when aimed, andiired. The fluid-pressure means provides a system that is easily controlled by the operator for efiecting engagement between the brakingsmfaces 29 and 30 and 32 and 35. The application of continued pressure to the pedal 46 ina-intalnsthese braking elements in braking position so'that'theweapon is securely locked against angular displacement due to the shocks of firing recoil applied: Fluid ehtering under pressure through the line all into the'chamber formed-between the-'cap'tiil 'oir'th'e housing i land the under radial face of the =bralreelement'Bil-forces the conical surface of the brake element into engagement with the conical recess 29; and securely binds the At themembers" 52 and tii "to the housing II; same-time fluid-under pressure entering through the linett intothe space between the 'cup'33 and braking element 3 1 forces the braking element axial-1y ofthe-trunnion-IB-and into engagement with the-conical face-on the braking element'32.

Because of the clearancesbetween the braking elements-=29= and '39, th ere may be slight shifting of theweap'on upwardly with respect to the mount -as=pressure isapplied; However; this shifting; Will-bevery minuteand since it willbe abodily shift of th'e-entiregun'barrel without change negligible.

It will-=be seenfrom the foregoingdescription that thereh'as been provided an" improved gun and" mount therefor; incorporating simple" and eflicient braking means'forinstantlyclamping ,or

in-wvithout departing fromthe spirit and scope of the-inventionas set forth'in'the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1.' Afgunan'd mount therefor, comprising a, gun barrel; amount including a support'h'aving opposite side members between whi-chlsaidfbarrelgis' positioned, means :mounting said barrel' on said supp'orttforelevation and depression and 'includ-L- ingatransverse trunnion carried 'inxa side .mem-

her" and" connectedto saidbarrel. for rotation. therewith during'elevationand depression. means on one said side member. forming a' fluid-tight housing "having;a p ortion providediwith a conical recessformedaboutth'eaxis of said trunnion,. a brakeel'ement in said housing havinga conical-t surface complementary to said.conical' recess, means connecting" saidi brake" element to said trunnion for rotation therewith as said; barrel is elevated and depressed; means mounting said: support on said .mount for traversing; of said supportx'and "barrel andincliidihg ;a. vertical pivot memb'erconneot'ed to said support for rotation therewith as said barrel is traversed, means on said mount forming a second fluid-tight housing having a portion provided with a conical recess formed about the axis of said pivot member, a brake element in said second housing having a conical surface complementary to said second conical recess, means connecting said brake element to said pivot member for rotation therewith as said support and barrel are traversed, and means on said mount for applying fluid under pressure to the aforesaid housings to cause interengagement between said bra-lie elements and their respective conical recesses for braking both traversing and elevation or depression of said barrel with respect to said mount.

2. In a gun mount, a housing, a pivot member journaled in said housing on a normally vertical train axis, a first conical braking surface connected for rotation with said pivot member and coaxial of said train axis, a second conical brak- 2 said elevation axis and connected for rotation I with said cradle about said axis, a braking element carried by said support and having a fourth conical braking surface coaxial of said elevation axis and complementary to said third braking surface, said third and fourth braking surfaces being relatively movable along said elevation axis into braking contact, and manually controlled means for effecting simultaneous relative movements of said first and second, and third and fourth braking surfaces into contact.

3. A mount as recited in claim 2, said last named means comprising a fluid pressure cylinder and piston slidably fitting said cylinder, at pivoted lever for operating said piston in one direction, a compression spring within said cylinder to urge said piston in the other direction, a support for said lever and adjustable stop means carried by said support and engageable with said lever to limit the rocking thereof in opposite directions respectively, fluid pressure responsive means including said second and fourth braking surfaces, for effecting braking movements of said surfaces, as aforesaid, and fluid pressure connections between said cylinder and said fluid pressure responsive means.

4. In a gun mount, a cradle for supporting a gun, aligned trunnions extending oppositely from said cradle and defining a normally horizontal elevation axis, a support, means journaling said trunnions in said support, means forming a first brake element fixed to one said trunnion concentric to said axis and having a braking surface extending generally transversely of said axis, a second braking element carried by said support for translation only along said axis into and out of engagement with said first braking surface,

and manually controlled means for forcing said second braking element into engagement with said first braking element to thereby brake said cradle against pivotal movement about said axis.

5. In a gun mount, a support, a cradle journ-aled in said support for pivotal movement about a normally horizontal axis, and first and second brake elements concentric of said axis and having mating brake surfaces formed as complementary surfaces of revolution about said axis, said first element being fixed to said cradle for rotation therewith and said second element being carried by said support for translation only along said axis into and out of engagement with said first element, and manually controlled means for so translating said second element into braking engagement with said first element, whereby to secure said cradle against pivotal movement about said axis.

6. In a gun mount, a cradle, a support, trun nions journaling said cradle in said support for pivotal movement about a normally horizontal gun elevation axis, a normally vertical pivot member rigidly connected with said support and defining a normally vertical train axis, a first brake element secured to said pivot member concentric of said train axis and having a brake surface extending generally transversely of said axis, a fixed housing journaling said pivot member and having a second brake surface complementary to and engageable with the brake surface of said first brake element in response to relative translation of said surfaces along said train axis to thereby brake pivotal movement of said cradle in train, and manually controlled means for effecting said relative translation.

'7. A mount as recited in claim 6, an element secured to one said trunnion concentric thereof and having a third brake surface generally normal to said elevation axis, a housing carried by said support, an element mounted in said housing and having a fourth brake surface translatable only along said elevation axis into braking contact with said third brake surface, said manually controlled means being connected to so translate said fourth brake surface.

ANDREW T. MANES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,608,595 Green et al Nov. 30, 1926 2,021,551 Herlach et a1 Nov. 19, 1935 2,113,161 Osborne Apr. 5, 1938 2,378,409 Joy June 19, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 129,679 Great Britain July 24, 1919 459,337 Great Britain Jan. 6, 1937 814,906 France Mar. 30, 1937 866,574 France Aug. 20, 1941 

